DETROIT — Aaron Nola walked the first two innings Monday night at Comerica Park as the Tigers struck.
And so, when Detroit led off the third with back-to-back singles, Nola calmly pulled the rug out from the home team, leading the first triple in MLB this season — and the first of its kind in 100 years — and helping the Phillies to an 8-1 series opener.
“I understand [what might happen] After I threw him to first,” said Nola, who threw seven innings of six-hit, one-run ball. “…it happened so fast. It was great. I guess it was a good way to get out of the game.
Matt Vierling’s weak line forced Nola to take off for first with runners on the corner. Running back Carson Kelly iced them between the first and second halves, allowing Nola to shoot the ball easily.
Then, the curious part. Zach McKinstry, who singled to open the inning, appeared to miss Nola as Vierling hit it in the air. McKinstry stood about 20 feet from third base, then slowly crept down the line as Nola threw to first, a widely accepted response when a runner tries to score in the infield.
“Many things [were] “Flying,” said McKinstry. I don’t want to say I wasn’t sure, but I thought the ball hit the ground.
The only problem was that he didn’t hit the grounder, and McKinstry didn’t tag out after Nola got out of the first. The Tigers’ shortstop seemed to think Nola was trying to get the batter out at first, rather than doubling in the run. It’s already on first, and ran home to score what he thought was Detroit’s first run.
“Vierling was like, ‘Was it a line drive?’ I looked at him, so something against the palm.
Phillies catcher Garrett Stubbs singled to third and first baseman Bryce Harper threw the ball to third baseman Alec Boehm, who stepped on the bag and ended the inning with a stunning 1-3-5 triple. Play it.
“He wasn’t the type to give up on the game,” Tigers manager AJ Hinch said. “I mean, he came into the house fully thinking the ball had hit the ground and Nola had slipped to first for some reason. So he misread the play.”
According to the American Baseball Research Association, Monday’s performance marked the first triple-A in MLB since the Angels played one against the Rays on Aug. 18, 2023. It was the Phillies’ 37th triple-double in club history and their first since August 27, 2017 against the Cubs.
“how about?” Phils manager Rob Thompson said with a laugh. “It’s funny because there’s a reflection off the left field fence where we’re sitting. You can’t see the ball coming off the bat, so I didn’t know where the ball went. And suddenly they threw him and ran from the field.”
The first three-game hitting streak against the Tigers since Aug. 3, 2017, is the 29th total in OS and club history against Detroit.
According to the SABR database, it was the first 1-3-5 triple play since July 11, 1929, when the Tigers hit one against Boston.